Elton John has thrilled around 15,000 sentimental fans at his first Indian concert.

Avoiding lingering monsoon rains that had threatened to spoil the open air concert alongside the palace of a former princely ruler, the portly star glittered in a turquoise suit ahead of the Indian Festival of Lights, which falls on Monday.

“Happy Deepavali” the singer greeted his fans at the concert on Saturday night. The festival is known as Diwali in the north of India. “At last I am playing in India and I am very excited.”

India has a massive following for pop music but has only recently become a feature on tour circuits, thanks to a fast-growing middle class.